How do I beat depression without the harmful effects of medication?

First, I mean no disrespect to anyone at all by posting this question. We all have different bodies and minds and different things work for all of us. That being said.

I am depressed. Have been for years. Also have ADHD, so you can imagine the competing need for serotonin and dopamine goes against each other sometimes. I still take a stimulant (Dexedrine).

In 2006 I started taking Paxil, 10 mg.It changed my life for the better but I felt emotionless and had no sex drive, which is absolutely something I cannot handle. After a year I quit, weaning myself off slowly. The withdrawal was absolutely ridiculous. For a month I puked, had brain zaps, soreness and insomnia every day. For two months after that I had severe suicidal depression, I almost lost it.

I am still depressed to this day. I want to beat this but do not want medication because I cannot afford the withdrawal. Any ideas? I do exercise, and have tried acupuncture with successful results for insomnia. Thanks very much

Hi, I know exactly what you are talking about. I got very sick last year and became depressed and was on some anti-depressants. I definitely had w/drawal when I stopped taking them.

My suggestion is natural cures, like St. John's Wort or Valerian Root. Do NOT take these with any rx anti-depressants. And talk to your MD or pharmacist, because I am not sure if there are issues with taking them with ADHD meds.
Also, as tough as it may be, and trust me, I know it is, get out and exercise. Exercising releases mood improving endorphines. I know that may be easier said than done because there were days when I couldn't even get out of bed. But try to do it, start small and work your way up to a good 30-60 min workout. I know it helped me feel better.

Try to spend some time each day doing something you enjoy. Again, I know it can be hard, but force it in the beginning if you have to.

Good luck to you, hang in there, I beat it and you can too!

Suggestions -- do a food journal - document how you feel 5 min, 30 min and 1 hour after eating a meal or food. Some foods can trigger a "blue" feeling -- for me it was dairy products. And it will also help you see if you are eating enough healthy foods.

Get sunshine -- since you are already exercising. You do not have to sunbathe for hours on end... just 30 minutes a day -- outside. Can even be broken up into intervals while the weather is cold/cooler (or summer and too hot to be out for too long of a time)

Do a "positives about me" journal. Repeating positives is fine to do -- if it sounds silly -- I thought so too when I first started. Journaling is good for you too -- and can help you express your ideas and even clear your head for new ideas which is invigorating.

I have depression too and these are things that have helped me. Feel free to not do any of the suggestions that simply dont work for you -- give them an honest go esp the food one for at least 30 days.

I too have (had) chronic depression. I also took Paxil for about a year and had extreme apathy like you. I decided not to take any drugs and turned to friends for help. Best decision ever! I for sure don't see any psychologists or shrinks. Only mingle with happy, positive, successful people. A lot of them can also be depressed but they deal with it in a positive way. I used to be a "loner". Now I make a real effort to be with people, go places, do things where others are. One sure fire way to get in a good mood and bring a smile to your face is to smile at someone - they always seem to smile back and it makes my day. Good luck

Pills used to treat depression has been proven to make the situation worst. Your body chemistry gets used to having the chemicals from the pills to feel better. When the medication is absent you feel worst than before, similar to the effects of cocaine, but to a different degree off-course. Jogging is proven to work better than pills. Honestly. If you are on the medication the exercise wont help. Just get up get out and do something. Go to the beach, visit friends and have a glass of wine. Watch a comedy, laugh. Holla if you ever wanna talk.

Some drug companies are down right evil, they want you to be hooked. Take a look at their symbol, 2 snakes wrapped around a staff with 2 angel wings. The staff means rule or control, the wings represent a dead angel, and the snakes represent the evil entity, which is trying to destroy.

If you're going the exercise route, you might want to try doing more---exercising longer, and/or more times a week. If you're not already doing yoga, add that in, it's very beneficial, especially combined with meditation.

Some people claim that the herbal remedy St. John's Wort has helped them, but it worked in reverse on me, made things worse.

Another natural supplement is SAM-e, which I found worked fairly well for me for a while. Its effectiveness waned with time, though. Definitely worth a try anyway!

Take up kickboxing, tai chi, or self-defense classes. Sometimes exercises in these categories are more helpful than simple aerobics. I found that learning to defend myself, while lashing out at inanimate targets, was good at releasing my inward feelings of anger and frustration.

It's hard to get moving at all when you've got depression; sometimes it seems that the only thing you're capable of doing is lying in one place, motionless with despair. But exercising is one way to force your brain to release endorphins, which can definitely help.

Best of luck to you, it sounds like you're dealing with quite the combination of problems.

Try learning an instrument and writing songs about how you feel a simple guitar could do wonders. The power of music is the best medicine. Or even the drums with your ADHD you could really let rip and have a blast. When i say write songs i mean get into it full on have fun. I hope you try these. Good Luck